Arts and Sciences | Community | FeaturedMarch 28, 2025

Mae Jemison, First Black Woman in Space, to Speak at UAFS

Written By: Rachel Putman

Dr. Mae Jemison, author, astronaut, entrepreneur, and prolific leader in the fields of science and exploration, will speak at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.

The event is free and open to the public thanks to the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecturer Program. Jemison is the university’s second speaker through the WRDL program, following Colson Whitehead’s 2023 lecture.

Jemison’s keynote, "Exploring the Frontiers of Science and Human Potential," will be followed by an audience Q&A and a book signing. Copies of her memoir, Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life, will be available for purchase.

A Trailblazer in Science and Exploration

Jemison made world history in 1992 as a science mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, where she conducted experiments in material science, life science, and human adaptation to weightlessness. She was the first woman of color to travel to space, and NASA’s first Science Mission Specialist, selected for her expertise in engineering and medicine.

Before joining NASA, Jemison was the Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia, where she managed healthcare delivery for volunteers and state department personnel, developed medical training programs, and conducted research on vaccines. A graduate of Stanford University with a degree in chemical engineering and a second degree in African and Afro-American studies, she went on to earn her medical doctorate from Cornell University Medical College.

A Global Leader in STEM, Innovation, and Space Exploration

Jemison is the founder of 100 Year Starship, a nonprofit initiative working to ensure that the capabilities for human interstellar travel exist within the next century. The project, initially seed funded by DARPA, seeks to foster radical advancements in technology, engineering, and human systems while also addressing critical global challenges.

She is the founder of The Jemison Group, Inc., a consulting firm that integrates social and cultural perspectives into technology and science projects, and BioSentient Corp., a medical technology company that focused on human performance and health.

Jemison is a Fellow of the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University and a Visiting Scholar at EnMed, Texas A&M’s engineering medical school. She has also served as an environmental studies professor at Dartmouth College, where she focused on sustainability in industrial and developing world technologies.

A passionate advocate for STEM education and diversity in science, Jemison founded The Earth We Share™ (TEWS), an international science literacy program that has reached thousands of students and educators worldwide. She also leads the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, named after her mother, a longtime Chicago public school teacher.

Jemison’s influence extends to the highest levels of business, education, and public service. She has served on the boards of major corporations, including Kimberly-Clark (where she chairs the Sustainability Committee) and the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. She is also the chair of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) External Council and was the founding chair of the Texas State Product Development and Small Business Incubator Boards.

Honors, Awards, and Cultural Impact

Jemison, a member of the National Academy of Medicine, has received numerous awards, including the 2023 Prix Galien Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award for Global Health Equity, the African Union Ambassador’s inaugural Mickey Leland Award, and the West Point Sylvanus Thayer Award. She has been named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 Women List and is an inductee of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame, the Texas Science Hall of Fame, and the International Space Hall of Fame.

She holds honorary doctorates from institutions including Princeton University, Stanford University, the University of Dublin, KU Leuven University (Belgium), the University of Delaware, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Jemison’s cultural impact is just as significant as her scientific achievements. She was the first real astronaut to appear on Star Trek and has been honored with a LEGO minifigure in the Women of NASA set. She was also featured on Sesame Street as "Astronaut Mae" and served as the space operations advisor for the National Geographic miniseries Mars.

A Legacy of Exploration and Innovation

Jemison continues to inspire new generations of scientists, engineers, and innovators. Whether leading groundbreaking research in interstellar travel, advocating for diversity in STEM, or addressing global challenges, she remains at the forefront of science, technology, and education.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecturer Program was established in 1972 by friends of Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. It assists the faculty at six University of Arkansas campuses in obtaining outstanding visiting lecturers to share ideas and drive public debate and cultural advancement. UAFS is the most recent university to join the group.

For more information or to reserve your free ticket, visit uafs.universitytickets.com.